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Support
Along with your healthcare team, you can ask other people to support you during your treatment. These people can be family, friends or professional caregivers.
Before you start CAR T-cell therapy your healthcare team may talk to you about what support you have in place. This is because you may need other people to help you after you’ve been discharged from the treatment centre.
Ways other people might help you include:
It may help those around you to understand the treatment process and how they can help. You can download the further material here and share with your family and friends.
Emotional Support
Treatment can also be mentally and emotionally exhausting but the emotional support of your friends, family and wider network can make the process easier to cope with. Having familiar support to discuss how you’re feeling, spend time with you and attend appointments can help you manage.
The good news is that there is plenty of help available – both for people going through therapy and for those supporting them. The following organisations and charities offer support for individuals and their loved ones who are facing cancer.
Organisations and charities within the United Kingdom:
Organisations and charities within the Republic of Ireland:
Financial support available for people living with cancer in the UK
It is well recognised that living with cancer can put a financial strain on patients and their families, but it’s important to remember there is support available to you. The following government schemes and charities offer various ways of financially assisting people who are living with cancer.
These financial support programmes can be used to help with any additional costs you might have because of cancer, such as extra bills, travel to and from the hospital, home adaptations or childcare for siblings.
Financial support from charities and organisations in the UK
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support offers a small, one-off payment of £350 to help cover the extra costs that cancer can cause – these are for people who have a low level of income and savings.
To find out more, click here.
Anthony Nolan
Anthony Nolan offers one-off grants, typically under £250, to individuals who have had any type of stem cell transplant for a blood cancer or blood disorder or are due to have one in the next six months.
To find out more, click here.
Leukaemia Care
Leukaemia Care operates a ‘Financial Hardship Fund’ to provide grants of up to £200 for essential living costs to patients and families affected by leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
To find out more, click here.
Leukaemia Care also offers free long stay accommodation close to CAR T treatment centres, ensuring that patients are able to travel to the treatment they need.
To find out more, click here.
Young Lives vs Cancer
Young Lives vs Cancer helps children and young people (0 to 25) and their families find the strength to face cancer. They offer a £100 financial grant to cover the immediate costs of cancer, and additional grants which could help parents struggling to keep their child warm or a young person who can’t afford to get to hospital.
To find out more, click here.
They also help families stay together for free at one of their Homes from Home close to the hospital.
To find out more, click here.
SimPal
SimPal offers free pre-paid SIM cards and mobile phones to those living with cancer to help patients stay connected.
To find out more, click here.
Government support schemes:
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a government-led scheme for people aged 16-65 who require extra money to help with the extra everyday costs of illness, disability or mental health conditions.
To find out more, click here.
Carers allowance
Carers allowance is a benefit for people who are providing at least 35 hours a week of care for someone who is ill or has a disability. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
To find out more, click here.
